A Madman in Love-Chapter 74

When faced with the possibility of losing someone too precious, people instinctively run away.

Seo Jaehee did exactly that.

"My feelings for you aren’t strong enough to invest my time and my life in this. That’s why I want to end it."

The moment he saw the cold sincerity in Suin’s face, a chill ran down his spine.

As he realized that the world he had believed to be unshakable was crumbling to pieces—

He became afraid.

It didn’t feel real. And yet, the fear that it might be real was even worse.

He sensed a barrier he couldn’t force his way through, and that absolute helplessness crushed him.

He could hardly breathe.

"Let’s take some time."

And so, he walked away.

If he could just get through this moment, he could hold onto her tomorrow.

If this overwhelming emotion could fade even a little, maybe things would change.

"Ha…"

His lungs finally unlocked only after he got into the car.

The moment he gripped the steering wheel, his arms trembled violently, his muscles spasming.

He needed to start the engine, but he couldn’t.

His emotions had overtaken him, locking up his entire body.

"Lee Suin."

In the end, he dropped his burning forehead against the wheel.

"Suin-ah."

***

Plop, plop.

Time stretched endlessly.

The quiet tapping against the windshield eventually escalated into a torrential downpour.

Whooosh—

Only then did Jaehee lift his head.

The alley that had been clearly visible moments ago had disappeared behind a cascade of rain.

It was impossible to see anything.

But even in this blurred, indistinct space—

All he could think about was Lee Suin.

His conscious mind, his subconscious—every part of him was filled with her.

Thud!

Jaehee shoved open the car door.

He strode forward, pushing through the merciless storm.

In mere seconds, he was drenched from head to toe, but he didn’t care.

His long legs carried him forward, cutting through the sheets of rain without hesitation.

He didn’t even stop to catch his breath.

He passed through the entrance of her building and took the stairs two at a time, leaping up to the second floor.

Then—

He pressed the doorbell.

Ding-dong—

Silence.

After waiting a few seconds, then a few more minutes, he raised his fist.

"Lee Suin!"

Bang! Bang!

"Lee Suin!"

His voice tore through the air, veins standing out on his neck as he pounded against the heavy metal door.

No response came from the empty apartment.

"Haa… haa…"

Panting, his breath ragged, Jaehee stumbled back into the rain.

Café Lime was dark.

When he glanced up at the second floor, he saw only a faint light from the living room—the rest of the apartment lay in shadow, vacant.

For a long moment, he just stared at those darkened windows.

Then, he let out a breath, something between a curse and a sigh.

"Fuck… Lee Suin."

He dropped his head.

The rain ran down his soaked hair, sliding over his cheeks—

Like tears.

***

The next day.

The relentless downpour that had drenched the city the night before had disappeared overnight.

Even the fine dust that usually clouded the city’s sky seemed to have been washed away, leaving behind an unusually bright morning.

Everything was clear—except for Suin’s swollen eyes.

"You look absolutely hideous."

She scoffed at her reflection in the mirror, pressing an ice pack against her puffy eyelids.

It was the price she paid for sobbing in her mother’s arms.

She had cried so hard, her throat still burned.

And yet, she hurried to get ready for work.

―[Emergency Meeting Notice] There are important updates. Please gather in the main conference room by 9:30 AM. If any executives are unable to attend due to schedule conflicts, please inform us in advance.

After sending the message to the secretarial team group chat, Suin arrived at the Executive Director’s office, maintaining a composed front.

But as 9 AM approached, her nerves began to fray.

You have to endure this.

She clenched her icy fingers, bracing herself.

At exactly 9 AM, only Jongin entered the office.

"Executive Director isn’t coming in today."

"Really?"

He wanted time, and now he’s avoiding me?

She tried to let resentment take over.

But she couldn’t deny the relief that came with not having to face him.

"Uh… Chief Suin…"

Jongin hesitated, his face dark with worry.

"The professor had to take Executive Director Seo to the emergency room this morning because his fever shot up past 40 degrees. He couldn’t even wake up."

"What?"

Her heart plummeted.

"His fever’s dropped slightly to 38.5, and he’s regained consciousness. But his doctor ordered hospitalization for further tests. He’s in the VIP ward at Korea University Hospital."

"……"

"You’re going to visit him, right, Chief?"

Jongin asked cautiously.

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He could sense the suffocating tension in the office, thick like gray dust in the air.

Suin ignored him and picked up a binder.

"You’ll be attending the secretarial meeting as well, Jongin. Let’s go."

"…Understood."

Jongin swallowed hard, shutting his mouth.

***

10 AM.

Suin stood before the assembled secretarial staff and calmly, concisely announced her resignation.

The conference room plunged into chaos.

The two people most visibly shaken were Hyun Jiye and Jongin.

"Our Chief… She’s not going to reconsider, is she?"

"Doesn’t seem like it."

"Did you see her face? She was so cold. Even though she’s always professional, she’s never been that distant with us."

"Yeah… It felt like she was a different person."

"If she’s already arranged the transition, that means the Chairwoman approved it, right?"

"Most likely."

"The Chairwoman actually let Chief Suin go…? This doesn’t make sense."

"Yeah… It’s unexpected."

"You didn’t know, Jongin?"

"I swear, I had no idea."

"You’ve been working with her for months, and you didn’t even suspect anything? How clueless are you?"

Hyun Jiye suddenly turned on him, lashing out.

Jongin frowned, pursing his lips in irritation.

Who was she to talk?

She didn’t even know that the "man" in Chief Suin’s life had been the Executive Director.

"Yeah, I guess…"

But instead of snapping back, Jongin just sighed.

Hyun Jiye glanced at his face and let out a deep sigh of her own.

"What am I supposed to do without her?"

"Me too."

Jongin muttered.

But as he spoke, his thoughts were already elsewhere—

With Seo Jaehee, lying in a hospital bed.

Now, it all made sense.

Ever since last week, when Suin had suddenly requested leave, he had sensed that something was wrong.

"This is bad."

Damn it.

Should he just sit back and do nothing?

What if this actually killed the Executive Director?

***

Jongin’s fears weren’t exaggerated—Seo Jaehee was dangerously ill.

Whether it was from standing in the rain for hours or from sheer emotional collapse, he had been found by Professor Seo Seongyeok in a near-delirious state and rushed to the emergency room.

"It’s most likely due to stress and exhaustion."

The doctor found no sign of viral infection and diagnosed him with an unexplained high fever, recommending rest.

But even in his half-conscious state, Jaehee scoffed at the diagnosis.

Bullshit.

The cause was obvious.

It was Lee Suin.

"You cruel woman."

She had actually brought him to his knees.

He had fought tougher battles than most war generals, yet she had utterly destroyed him.

"What did you say?"

Seo Seongyeok, who had been anxiously keeping watch, perked up at his murmur.

Jaehee weakly shook his head.

"How are you feeling? Any better?"

"…Yeah."

"The fever’s come down with the IV and antipyretics, but the doctor says it might spike again. You need complete rest."

Jaehee barely registered his father’s words.

A faint vibration cut through the room—his phone.

The one he had asked for when he regained consciousness earlier.

"It’s Jongin. Can you take the call?"

"Give it to me."

"Don’t overdo it. I’ll step out for a bit."

Seo Seongyeok placed the phone against Jaehee’s ear before tactfully leaving the room.

[Are you okay, Executive Director?]

"Where’s Lee Suin?"

[She’s at work. But…]

Jongin hesitated at the blunt question.

Jaehee, annoyed, was about to press when Jongin carefully asked—

[Did you know Chief Suin resigned?]

"What?"

Jaehee’s grip on the phone tightened, and he abruptly sat up.

Pain shot through his arm from the sudden movement, but he ignored it.

"Suin quit the company?"

[Yes… And the Chairwoman has already accepted her resignation.]

A flash of lightning streaked through his brain.

The missing pieces clicked into place.

In an instant—

Jaehee set the phone down.

Then, without hesitation, he yanked the IV needle from his arm and stormed out of the hospital room.

Drip.

Drip.

Blood trickled from his arm, staining the pristine white marble floor with crimson.